Sectional wheel



Dec. 7 1926.

A. MELDRUM SECTIONAL WHEEL Filed July 17 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WMM n m v i Dec. 7 1926.

A. MELDRUM SECTIONAL WHEEL Filed July 17. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ma@ M WMZ 'y/m/ vraml@ A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES ALEXANDER MELDRUM, oE sYnAoiIsE, NEW YORK.

SECTIONAL WHEEL.

Appncation'aied July 17, 1925. serial No.Y 44,400.

This invention relates lto vehicle wheels and more particularly to sectional cast metal vehicle wheels of the type adapted to receive resilient tires.

It is a genera-l object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved type of sectional cast metal vehicle wheel.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide a two-part sectional cast metal vehicle wheel having the rim formed integral with one ofthe sections and being provided with non-radial webs joining the rim to the elloe.

'A further object of the present invenn tion consists in the provision of the novel 'method of joining and reinforcing the rim and elloe of a cast metal vehicle wheel.

Still another object of the present invention consists in the provision of a novel and. improved means for mounting a side ring of the quick detachable type on the rim of a metal vehicle wheel.

@ther and further objects will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by consideration of the following specification and attached drawings wherein are disclosed several exemplary embodiments of 'the present invention with the understanding, however, that various changes may be made in the size, shape, proportion, arrangement and material of the various parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

In said drawings, Y l

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a wheel constructed according to the present invention showing the brake drum in eleva tion; Y

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the wheel ot Figure 1 looking from the brake drum side;

Figure 3 is a partial, enlarged section through the rim of a wheel constructed accordingto the present invention.; i

Figure 4 is a similar view showing another method of mounting the side ring;

`Figure 5 is an insideview of the filler section of the wheel; and

` Figure 6 is a similar view of the other or rim carrying section. Y

In my application Ser. No. 7,117, filed on the 5th day of February, 1925, there is disclosed' a cast metal vehicle wheel' formed of two sections 'abutting substantially along a median plane, one of the sections carrying the rim and the other forming a illing and reinforcing member closing the hollow of the spokes and .serving to support the outer edge of the rim on the side remote from the place where it is secured to the felloe o'f the part carrying it. The present invention contemplates several improvements on that type of wheel which will be readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings.

The wheel is composed of two sections of which the main one is shown at 10 and the subsidiary one at 11. Each of these sections is a one-piece casting and includes a center or hub portion 12 and hollow spoke port-ions 13.

The main section of the Wheel includes in addition to the hub and spoke portions the felloe portion 14 and the complete rim 15, these partsbeing integral with the hub and spoke parts. The rim is of the usual construction having a cylindrical base and is provided with the flange 16 to retain a tire in position. Its other edge may be grooved as shown at 17 in Figure l to receive the conventional form of side ring 18, as is well-known in the art, the ring and rim being known as the quickletachable type. The Vringis split to allow for it-s ready removal from the groove 17 for ease in mounting and demounting tires.

Since the rim is completely supported by the main section of the wheel and since the groove 17, which is turned after the wheel is cast, separates it from the edge of the felloe portion 14,' other means must be provided -or retaining it in position. 'These comprise suitable webs 19, best shown in Figure 6, extending from the ends of the spoke portions, bridging the hollow oit' the felloe 14 and thus supporting 'the rim from the elloe, the webs being cast integral with both of these parts. The inner side of the felloe is open, as arel the inner sides of the spokes `which Vare preferably substantially semi-cylindrical in form. It has been found that if the webs are arranged radially, cast ing-strains result and upon cooling or annealing the webs lmay draw away from eithervthe felloe or the rim, thus resulting in an insecure structure. To overcome this, the Webs have been. arranged non-radially so that any shrinking or expanding of either the rim or the felloe or both, while changing the distance between these two :lll

parte, wi. neif'erthelessJ not crack the webs, but will cause Ch-ein to rotate slightly about axes parallel to the axle ot the wheel and thus adjust themselves without being niaterially weakened. This is' an efsential. feature ot the invention and results in a successful wheel where others have tailed. The webs are clearly .shown in Figure (i leading troni the edges of the spokes and divergingi' at an angle oil substantially d50 to the center liney oi'' the spoke, although the particular angle immaterial. In addition to supporting the riin from the telloe, these webs fori-n with these two parte what may he termed a boi: girder materially strengthening the wheel and adding' but little to its weight, since the;7 allow the use oi thinner material in bothA te loe and riin.

About onehalill oi" the rim overhangs thel pokes ot the inain section on their hollow "idee, and ths is partially supported by the -1 bsidiarv or filler section ll previousljv mentioned. ln addition to the huhl and spoke parts this section has :in outer rpg' T20 f suoli a ividth as to close up the o; l ot the felloe on the inan section posent a neat appearance while at t t-iine supporting the free edge ot' the i'iin which is turned to have e cylindrical bore 22 to receive this tiller section. The spoke parts on the filler section :ire con'iplenientary to tie spolieparts on the main secton vand together the two sets ot spoke parts t'orin coinplete tubular spokes which may may not taper in sise troni the hub toward mie rim lmay 3e desired. lt will be appreciated that substantiel fillets are provided where the spokes join the hub and telloe parts and where the wehs join the Yfelloe and i'iin parts.

The two sectons ot the wheel secu' together near the outer ends ot the s; just adjacent their junction with the lll and the ring? 2O bj( means ot suitable riifets 2?), as shown in Figure 2, which have their heads countersunk and sur'hced ott to follow the contour olAl the spokes Vand tlius be invisible after painting. lVhere the rivets pass through the spolnzsu suitable bosses 24E project inwardlt7 and-meet as at 25 so that the hollow spokes will not be crushed by the rivet-ing operation. y

The hub po tions are hollow, as shown in r Fir l s 5 and 6; vand have the inner flanges which abutto clot-:e the edges ot the central openingin the finished wheel. Bosses 27 are provided on each section and ab'ut as shown at 28 Vto receive through openings therein, securing means tor holding` the wheel sections together at the Center.V These securing means comprise hollow sleeves 28 which are expanded into the countersunk ends ofl the Openings in the bosse'sQ'to se# curelv hold the center portions of the wheel together, i

The sleeves 28 are provided with the centrali openings, as shown in' Figure l. through which bolts 29 in'a'y pass tor the purpose ot securing the wheel in position on central bearing nien'ihersor other n'ieans ior ni-ounting; the wheel in position on a live or dead aidev (not shown). rlhe bolts may also pass through the outer cover plate 3() and the brak-e drinn 3l.

An improved feature of the present invention is the large amount of clearance atl forded for the brake drinn and brake ineclianisin ily virtue of the tact that the inner side of the wheel has no telloe and thus nearly halt ot the width ot the riin is thus' exposed on the inner side to give the absolute inaliiiiuin .space for the hrale drinn and hrale hand and its operating; parts. rl`his teatureis best Ashown by refer-ence to Figure l'. TWith the advent ot' balloon tires wl ture is found to he of considerable i'niporlance, for otherwise the diameter of the hrz-ile drun'i would be nndulj7 limited and the size oli the brake anchors and levers would be reduced in' .such a inanner to inateriallj,7 weaken thorn ln Figure 4* isV shown the Conventional type oliIV side ring'for 'the purposes of retaining the tire position on the wheel, while in Figure 3 is shown improved `forin which it is preterredvto use with the p're's'ei'i'it invention. It willlbe noticed that'in this constructionythe felloe 1 4 is Anarrower'and thinner since itneednot entend beyond the edge the loc'lfing` ri'ng'to hold it in place. The riin l5 is provic ed with the section 32 of reduced diameter having at the junction of theY two diameters a groovev 33.

The locking ringis son'iewhat L-shap'ed in sectioin the cir'ciunferential part `34 being of a flin'ossto buildup thc/'reduced diiun-VV eter 3Q of the iini to' fhfe equivalen-t of the main portion thereof. part 34 has the inwardly ti'irfned flange 35' adapted t'o tit'in the gr'oovelto re rtin the ringin position. llith the construction' shown in Figure, no undercut groove is necessary `Vto retainA the side ring position, for the portion ,34C thereof cornes beneath the bead of tlie tire uch necessitate .small slZe riins. this ieawhich serves to hold the ilange Rosecur'ely V in the groovel 33V when the tire is' inflated. This construction is further of advantage in' that the fello'e and; riin are not' separated at the' edlgfe` but forni' a continuous' surface froinrthe' spokes the flange of the riin which is not true the' construction shown in Figure 4l. Thisxnew' construction', therefore, provides a lighter and stronger wheel and yone which may be more readily constructed while Jat the saine tiine'ch'e'ape'ning the operation of nianufactiiregsince thejlocking ring-` isf ot substantially uniform thickness throughout and can be vI nadeby rolling from a' plate orV bar.`

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A vcast metal vehicle wheel including in combination, a rim and a hollow felloe, webs connecting said rim to the inner side of said felloe and cast integral with each part, said webs being arranged at an angle to radii of said wheel passing through them.

2. A cast metal vehicle wheel including in combination, a hub, spokes radiating therefrom.v a hollow felloe connecting the ends of said spokes and formed by an inner wall and a rim, and nonradial webs supporting said rim from said inner wall substantially as described.

3. In a cast metal vehicle wheel, complementary sections meeting substantially along a median plane, one of said sections having a tire supporting rim formed thereon, a hollow felloe on said section closed peripherally by said rim, one lside of said felloe be# ing open, ribs supporting said rim from said felloe and means on said other section to close said felloe.

4l. In a cast metal .vehicle wheel, complementary sections .meeting substantially along a median plane, one of said sections having a tire supporting rim formed thereon, a hollow felloe on said section closed peripherally by said rim, one side of said felloe being open, ribs supporting said rim from said felloe and means on said other section to close said felloe and support said rim beyond said felloe.

5. In a cast metal vehicle wheel, two sections each including integral hub and spoke parts, a rim on one of .said sections, a hollow felloe between said rim and spoke parts, and a ring on said other section complementary to said felloe, said rim and felloe being connected by integral webs lying in nonradial planes.

6. In a cast metal vehicle wheel in combination, a rim, a hollow felloe, webs connecting the rim to the inner peripheral wall of the hollow felloe, said webs being cast integral with the rim and felloe.

7. A cast metal vehicle wheel including in combination, a hub, spokes radiating therefrom, a hollow felloe connecting the ends of said spokes and formed by an inner wall and a rim, and webs supporting .said rim from said innerwall substantially as described.

8. A rim for vehicle wheels including a main cylindrical portion, a flange at one edge thereof, a second cylindrical portion of lesser diameter, and a flanged ring adapted to removably fit over said second mentioned cylindrical portion and having its surface flush with said first mentioned cylindrical portion and means at the junction of said cylindrical portions to retain said ring in position.

9. A rim for vehicle Wheels including a main cylindrical portion, a flange at one edge thereof, a second cylindrical portion adjacent the uniianged edge of said first portion and of lesser diameter, said rim being cha-nnelled between said cylindrical portions, a demountable ring adapted to fit over .said portion of lesser diameter and to have its surface flush with the larger diameter, an inturned fiange on said ring adapted to fit in said channel whereby a tire will hold said ring on .said rim.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ALEXANDER MELDRUM. 

